With the '03 Cobra making 390 hp, it is easy to forget about the two-valve modular engine. Mod motor gearheads naturally seek more power and, therefore, many opt to go for the quad-cammed motor right from the start. However, we've noticed that its little brother likes being hot rodded just as much.
The new Cobra is a completely different breed of snake thanks to the addition of a supercharger, and we're here to tell you that the GTs like forced induction just as much. While we sought out different engine combinations for our shootout, the vast majority seems to be moving towards blowers, and that is what we ended up with.
Since its placement in the Mustang, the modular engine has made quite a few leaps and bounds in performance. This was accomplished in just a few years, and in that same span of time, the aftermarket has begun to produce a plethora of parts guaranteed to add even more oats to the feedbag. We gave you a look at some hard-core 4.6-liter parts in our May issue with "The Future is Now," and in this issue, we have included a parts interchangeability story, "Modular Mix and Match, Part 2." These, along with our '01 Mustang GT project car, have (or will) show you what is possible with modular-powered Mustangs, and the 2002 two-valve shootout offers additional real-world experiences with various combinations.
Modular muscle was in abundance at Englishtown as some of the single-overhead-cammed cars cracked off multiple 10-second passes. All attendees, but one, were supercharged, but, by far, the most interesting vehicle on-hand was that of Jeff Bloch, whose Crown Victoria was capable of low-13-second e.t.s. But before we give the story away, go ahead and read the results. Keep in mind that all of these competitors are licensed and insured, street-driven cars, and if you had doubts about the modular powerplant, these potent performers should put them to rest.